The aridity of the Centre results in extremes of temperature that are best avoided, if at all possible. In the midwinter months of July and August the air is lovely and clear although freezing nights , especially around Uluru, are not uncommon. But there's no escaping the summer heat : in December and January the temperature may have already reached 40°C by 10am and doesn't drop below 30°C all night. Autumn (April-June) and Spring (Sept & Oct) are ideal times to explore the region in comfort.

 

Rain is a rare and wonderful thing in the Centre. In Alice, most houses don't have gutters: they would rarely be needed and, in any case, would be unable to cope with the deluge when it comes. Whenever you visit, a sudden storm may temporarily transform the desert into a garden of exquisite flowers as well as cut off access along even the main roads.

Out here a wide-brimmed hat is not so much a fashion accessory as a life saver, keeping your head and face in permanent shadow. All but the shortest of walks will also require a water bottle and loose, long-sleeved clothing plus lashings of sun block on any exposed skin. Australia's many venomous but rarely seen snakes and, more relevantly, rocky tracks and the carpet of prickly spinifex grass that covers one-fifth of the continent, make a pair of covered shoes or boots the final elementary precaution to safe and comfortable enjoyment of the Centre.